Improvement in riding-saddles



W. M. HERRING. Riding-Saddles.

Patented Mar. 18,1879.

INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

MPETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, wAsmMGToN. 0 c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. HERRING, OF SPRING HILL, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN R. HERRING, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RIDING-SADDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 213,418, dated March 18, 1879; application filed August 3, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MARTIN HER- RING, of Spring Hill, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Iron-Fork Sad dle-Trees, of which the following is. a specification:

Figure 1 is a side View of my improved saddle-tree, one of the fillin g-blocks being removed. Fig. 2 is a top View of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section of the same, taken through the line to a, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken through the line y y, Fig. 3, and having the lower filling-blocks removed. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken through the line a 2, Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved saddle tree which shall be light, strong, and durable, being less liable to split or break than saddle-trees constructed in the usual way.

The invention consists in the combination of the malleable-iron fork, made with the hollow pommel, the prongs, the flanges, and the web, and the wooden filling-pieces, with the side bars and the cantle, as hereinafter fully described.

A represents the fork, which is cast of malleable iron. The pommel a is cast upon the arch of the fork A, and is made hollow and with a flaring open top, so that it may be made light, while having the requisite size and strength. The legs of the fork A have each three prongs, a through which are formed the holes to receive the screws by'which the said fork A is secured to the side bars B. The outer sides of the legs of the fork A are recessed, and have flanges a formed along their front and rear edges. The recesses in the legs of the fork Aare filled by wooden pieces 0, which are secured in place by screws. To the side bars 13 at the front and rear edges of the legs of the fork A are secured Wooden fillingpieces D E. The outer surfaces of the fillingpieces 0 D E are smoothed off flush with each other and with the outer edges of the flanges a of the legs of the fork A. The lower rear part of the fillingpieces E and the lower part of the side bars B are worked down to form easy resting-places for the legs of the rider.

F is the cantle, which is attached to the rear parts of the side bars Bin the usual way. The recess between the forward sides of the (and parts of the cantle F and the side bars B is filled up with wooden pieces G. The outer surface of the filling-pieces G is dressed down, so that they may gradually and smoothly meet the surfaces of the side bars B, and thus form an easy seat for the rider.

The open top of the pommel a is closed with a wooden filling-piece, H, which is secured to the flaring top of the said pommel by screws. The fork A is strengthened against spreading or splitting by an arched web or flange, at, extending across its arch a little in front of the hollow lower end of the pommel a, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

I am aware that it is not new to make a pommel with hollow neck, open end, and in one piece with fork, or a fork with wooden pommel and side pieces. The advantage of mine is that the legs of my fork are attached to side bars, so that the latter are rendered steady on the back, thereby avoiding friction. The broad edges, curve, and brace also give "great strength and durability.

Having thus described my invention, I elaii as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The improved saddle-tree consisting of the malleable-iron fork A, made with the hollow pommel a, the prongs M, the flanges a and the Web a, the wooden filling-pieces O D E G H, the side bars B, and the cantle F, sub stantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM MARTIN HERRING.

Witnesses:

W. W. FOWLER, T. M. SHELToN. 

